How to World Travel With a Carry-On: Part 3 - Toiletries

Toiletries don’t necessarily sound like the most interesting part of a travel pack. But, trust me, there are definitely ways to make constant packing and unpacking and moving around easier here too. My general philosophy in packing toiletries is to focus on high-quality items that I can put in a carry-on, are unlikely to break, and are not easily replaceable. It’s worth remembering that most things are easily replaceable. But, having something high quality is better for your pocket, comfort, and sanity in the long run. Where possible, I’ve included affiliate links, which will help support these things I do. Side note, if you have any alternative suggestions please let me know!

Toiletry Bag

My current favorite toiletry bag is the Explorer Mini by Gravel and it solves two problems my previous favorite by Sea to Summit had. First, it has two completely separate compartments, meaning items for oral and hair care will never come in contact. Second, it’s made from a very durable material that’s easy to clean. It also has a silicon loop that allows you to hang it from anywhere. It is small, but I’m able to fit all my essentials, including everything else in this post. I do have one complaint, the pull tag on the zippers did break. This has happened to me with a peak design bag in the past and nearly my matador backpack before I reinforced it. For some reason, zipper tags tend to be the first thing to break. So, my solution has just been to buy a pack of strong zip tags, and replace when needed.

Electric Toothbrush

The first thing I really liked about this toothbrush was its case, which covers the head but leaves enough airflow to keep it fresh (fresher..). It’s also impressively compact for an electric toothbrush. A single AAA battery supposedly lasts about 3 months. Although, I think mine has gone much longer.. Though that could mean I’m not brushing enough. It also has an auto 2min timer which has occasionally inspired me to brush longer. This is by far the best travel toothbrush I’ve come across, and luckily it’s electric too.

Soap Bags

These things are like magic. If you put a wet soap bar in a regular ziplock, it will likely be mush when you take it out a day later. Yet, somehow, these soap bags are able to absorb the moisture, so that the soap bars can retain their form and use. These things have been amazing. I especially love them for when I’m in a hostel and maybe I don’t want to or can’t leave my soap in the shower.

Deodorant

Two words, Salt Rocks. I originally started using these way before I began traveling simply because they seemed eco-friendlier and didn’t have all the chemical additives of regular deodorants. But, I’ve also seen other travelers using them. I think the main travel advantage they have is that they're a solid, so no issues with airport security and they last extremely long. One downside is that it is a crystal rock, so if it falls on a hard surface it will break. I do recommend buying an option with a plastic cover, like this one. I use one from the US grocery store, Sprouts. My current one has been in use for about 6 months, and is still half there.

Trimmer

I was originally using the Meridian body trimmer as a beard trimmer because it’s a high-quality build and charges by USB-C, which means no need to worry about losing another cable. But, recently, I switched to the Phillips OneBlade, and the smaller form size, ease of use, and closer trim have sold me on it. I'm not thrilled about eventually having to replace the head, but so far, a single one has lasted surprisingly long.

Tweezers

Ok, this is just a bonus. Get yourself some high-quality tweezers. You might need it for a hair or a bee sting, but no doubt you’ll eventually need it.

I hope you found this list helpful and please let me know if you have any interesting items you’d suggest I add to my pack.

See you next week,

Peace ✌️

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